Jesus asks this question of his disciples. He highlights a specific area of concern: what makes a person unclean?
09 Don’t You Understand? (Mark 7:1-23)
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Latest Blog Posts from Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.
2 Timothy Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study both Paul’s second epistle to Timothy.
Paul’s Use of the Old Testament
The New Testament is our divinely inspired commentary on the Old Testament. When studying a passage, it’s often helpful to see how other biblical authors understood it. Here is are the Apostle Paul’s quotes of the Old Testament in his letters.
Introduction to the Old Testament
Why study the Old Testament? It’s the Scriptures that Jesus used.
08 How Many Loaves Do You Have? (Mark 6:30-46)
The feeding of the 5000 is the only story — other than Jesus’ last week on earth — which is found in all 4 gospels. It is mentioned in several other passages as well. Even though it’s part of a familiar story, this question is one of the more obscure questions that we’ll cover.
07 Why Do You Weep? (Mark 5:35-43)
As we journey through Mark, the evidence is mounting that Jesus is the Messiah. First, he claimed to have the authority to forgive sins. Then we saw him deal with an overwhelming external storm and an overwhelming internal storm, followed by a debilitating physical illness. With this question, he confronts the final enemy: death.
06 Who Touched Me? (Mark 5:21-34)
This question is addressed to the woman whose period didn’t end for 12 years. She was ritually unclean, isolated, sick and living a life that was going from bad to worse with no hope on the horizon. She touched Jesus in hopes of being healed physically, but Jesus stopped and offered her spiritual healing and a place in the community of believers.
Joshua-Job quotes in the New Testament
Quotations/Allusions to the Old Testament books of Joshua 1&2Samuel, 1&2Kings, 1&2Chronicles and Job in the New Testament
05 What is Your Name? (Mark 5:1-20)
This question is addressed to the legion of demons who are tormenting the man in the graveyard, and it is asked in the presence of the disciples. Why would Jesus care about the name?
Genesis Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Genesis.
Minor Prophets quoted in the New Testament
Quotations/Allusions to the Old Testament Minor Prophets in the New Testament
04 Why Are You so Afraid? (Mark 4:35-41)
Perhaps the most difficult question that skeptics ask is the question of suffering. How can God be all-powerful and all-loving and allow His people to live in tragedy and anguish? The disciples ask “Don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus responds reveals the problem of suffering is ultimately a problem of faith.
03 Good or Evil, Life or Death? (Mark 2:23-3:6)
Mark 2:23-3:6 contains two stories back-to-back about the sanctity of the Sabbath. In the first story, the Pharisees accuse the disciples of Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. In the second story, Jesus turns the tables on the Pharisees and accuses them of being the real Sabbath breakers.
Deuteronomy Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy quotes in the New Testament
Quotations/Allusions to the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy in the New Testament
02 What’s Easiest to Say? (Mark 2:1-12)
This passage contains two questions addressed to the Pharisees when the paralyzed man was lowered through his roof. Jesus challenges them, asking whether they serve a Lord who forgives and delights in forgiveness or one who withholds forgiveness? Passage 2:1And when...
Holy Spirit Resources
Resources to help you study the role and nature of the Holy Spirit.
Genesis Quoted in the New Testament
Quotations/Allusions to the Old Testament book of Numbers in the New Testament
01 Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
Have you ever wondered why Jesus would ask a question, especially one he already knows the answer to? Divine questions are meant to be answered on a deeper level.
Numbers Quotes in the New Testament
Quotations/Allusions to the Old Testament book of Numbers in the New Testament
What Does it Mean to Carry Your Cross? (Luke 14:25-35)
Jesus said whoever does not bear his own cross cannot be his disciple. This passage can be terrifying because Jesus makes strong claims about hating your family and your own life. If we claim to follow Jesus, then we need to know exactly what he requires to be his disciple.
What is a disciple?
The Greek word usually translated disciple simply means a student or one who learns. But it was a particular kind of student in Jesus’ day.
Introduction to the Pentateuch
The first five books of the Old Testament — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy — are collectively been known as the Pentateuch. The Jews usually call the Pentateuch the law or the Torah.
2 Thessalonians Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians.
June 2020 Reflections
During my study break, I will randomly offer single podcasts that illustrate good Bible study methodology or that are passages I’ve always wanted to teach. I’ve also been adding to the number of resource pages to aid you in your study.
Leviticus quotes in the New Testament
New Testament Citations of the Old Testament book of Leviticus
Word Study Shortcuts
While I recommend you learn how to do your own word studies, here are some shortcuts you can take to save time, to get past “study block” or compare your ideas with someone else’s.
Parable of the Great Banquet
In Luke 14, Jesus gives a series of parables in rapid secession. They are all set at a banquet. These parables aren’t as famous as some of the other parables Jesus tells. They are relatively straightforward so they tend to get overshadowed by other parables like the prodigal son. But I think they are very profound.
Numbers Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Numbers.
Judges of Israel Chart
The book of Judges tells of the various leaders raised up to deliver Israel from the enemies remaining in the land after the conquest under Joshua. The Judges of Israel (c. 1375–1050 BC) came from various tribes and regions of Israel.
Leviticus Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Leviticus.
Exodus & Numbers Parallels
A chart of the parallel passages found in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Numbers.
Return of the Unclean Spirit (Matthew 12:43-45)
Matthew 12:43-44 contains one of the most difficult sayings of Jesus. This passage can only be solved with good Bible study methodology.
Exodus quotes in the New Testament
Quotations/Allusions to the Old Testament book of Exodus in the New Testament
Exodus Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Exodus.
May 2020 Reflections
1Corinthians is the textbook case for understanding context. This is a profoundly important claim about the way we approach the Bible.